Registering device



3 shets-sheet 1 c. F'. MILLER 4ET AL REGISTERING DEVCE Original Filed Jan.' 29,A 1918 July 13, 1926u July 13, 1926.

- C. F. MLLER ET AL.

REGI'STERING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 29, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13 1926.-

C. F. MILLER ET AL REGISTERING DEVICE y Original Filed Jan. 29, 1918 3 Sheets-Sheet (s Patented .lilly 13, 1926.

UNITED s 'raras CHARLES IJLLEE AND JOHN VVILLS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO MARVIN OF LANCASTER, EENNSYLVANA, ASSGNORS, SMTHEY, F LAVRENCEVLLE, VIRGINIA.

REGISTERNG DEVICE.

Application filed January 2l),

Our invention relates to metering and reg stering apparatus Yfor use with automobiles,

employing a large number ot odometers or counters which register mileage `l'or making and preseiying an accurate account ot the mileage et each ot the tires as vvell as the total and trip mileage, and 'for keeping track on a mileage basis ot other matters connected with the operation of the car.` lt is essential to commercial success that such an instrument be absolutely accurate in its operations, be of a minimum number or' parts to enable economical manufacture, which is ailected by the number oi" parts, because o'f their cost and also by the time and labor required vfor their assemblage, be as compact or reduced Within as simple a compass possible, because of the limited space available on the car tor such a mechanism, and be capable ot easy and simple manipulation in making use ot it. ln making the invention, we have had all these considerations in mind, and it Will be "found that the mechanism in which is embodied the invention fullills all the conditions just set forth.

ln the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a face or front view ot a metering and registering mechanism embodying our invention A Fig. 2 is a top Fig. 3 is a face view, and a portion of the casing broken away;

Fig. a is an end view, the casing `being omitted, and parts being `shown in section.

Briefly described, the instrument shown in the drawings as embodying our invention comprises a large number ol' odometers or registers and a common operating shaft which is connected With and receives motion from onel of the carrying Wheels of the car, and the collection of odometers being movably mounted, so that in succession they may be brought into position tor reading their registrations. Proceeding now With a description in detail of the construction and arrangement ot parts appearing in the annexed drawings, it Will be found that the supporting trame Work is substantially cylindrical and consists of the iront circular plate l0, top plate 10a, and bottom plate 10b, which are spaced apart the baclr by several posts li. The top and bottom plates havebearings (preferably ball) for the ver arranged driving f shatt le whose plan view;

`the dial removed being shown i915, Serial No. H4323?.

' in trro circular Renewed September '1.7, 1924` lower end is connected to the usual iexible slrl't (notshoufn) by which driving connest on is r ide with one ot theiivheels of the ear. Said driving` shaft lei is thus located the bach et the instrument. On the upper end o shaft lll is a spiral gear l which niesnes u 1th a spiral gear lli upon a horizontal shalt li" that is 'journaled at its opposite enus in bearings upon the top plate ldd. Ne its forward end the horizontal thalt has a worm 1S Which meshes With ivor n ivheel 19 ot large diameter on a lhaiit 2l mounted. at its opposite ends in in depending arms on the top plate 10ft.

fl. ne odometersI or registers 2O are arranged oit the Worm Wheel, each series being carried by the flanges ot a spool thatconsists of a sleeve mounted on the shaft 2l and a pair ol? disks 22 that constitute the spool flanges and which are spaced apart a distance equal to the length of the odometers, and each odometer being mounted on a saindle 23 which is supported in alining holes in the flanges or disks 22. The drawings illustrate each group ot odometers as consisting of 'four but the number may be varied and We, therefore, do not limit ourselves to any particular number. Vllhe arrangement ot' the odometers in tivo groups or series, enables a large number ot odometers to be employed Without sacriiicin g com'pactness of the instrument. In the 'face plate, or dial 2l there is a single sight opening for each group ot odometers. The outer ilange or disk 22 of each spool has gear teeth in its periphery so that each is a gear Wheel, and meshing with each gear Wheel is a pinion 26 upon a horizontal shaft 27 at the rear of the odometers which at one end has a pinion 28 with which meshes a pinion 9.9 on the inner end of a horizontal yshaft 30 that extends forwardly to the tace ot' the instrument and at its iront end has a lrnurled head 3l by which it may be conveniently revolved by the fingers and thus the tivo groups of odometers simultaneously revolved to bring any desired alining pair ol odometers ot' the two groups opposite the display openings Q5 in the tace ot the dial. Said shaft 30 and the intermeshing gears 2S and are supported and housed by a hollow bracket arm attached to the side oit the trame. ln the periphery ot each ot 'the inner anges at die tivo spools are equi series or groups on each side distant indexingr notches -which are adapted to be engaged in succession by spring par-,ils 34 'which serve to yieldingly hold. the odometer groups against accidental turning'.

Upon the outer end oi earh odmneter spindle Q3 a Wheel 55 having in its periphery a series et notches 36 with its pei-- riphery between adjacentnotches Coneavely curved to contorni to and tit the curvature oi the periphery oi a Wheel or difY el, keyed to the shail 2l. ane haring' preferably a single tooth 38 n'hien by the rerolntion of the. Wheel 37 is brought into enga nent Vith the notchesI fle ot' the Wheels as the Wheel 3T revolves, the Wheels 35 and l? being the well-linon'n Genera stop gearing'. Thus, the driving shaft called upon to aetuate but one odometer mechanism ot each group at ay time, and hencey the Work may be easily' done and 'without serious strain upon 'the parts inyolrid, nd the ae- Cidental turnini` et the odon'ieters in the intervals between their inoienient the tooth 38 is elliciently and yet simply a 'ded against.

Upon each odometer spindle i223 adjacent the Wheel 35 thereon is a pinion il?) for cooperation with a toothed Wheel et() on a shaft ll mounted in bearings in the trent frame plate and in the arm 10C and which has on its outer end a turning head 4t@ for revolving the Wheel i0 and constituting a zero resetting` device. The pinion 39 of ea ll odometer may be brought in succession .into eno'agement With the Wheel 40, and 'the Wheels 35 and 3T being disconnected, the odometer may be reset to Zero. The disengagement oit the odometer tor Zero rosetting and t-he nieshing' ot the Wheel i0 with a pinion 39 are bot-h produced by the ond- W'se movement. oilE the shaft't /Il-l by pulling on the llcnob 412. The shaft @il has a taperingl portion which hears against the end ot' the pinion shattand moves the same endn'ise against the pressure oi a sin'ing,` which on the r-ei'erse end 'wise movement ot the shaitt il restores the pinion and associated parts for again dri ring the odometer.

It is desirable to be able to render any one odometer inactive. This is accomplished by shiftii'ig` its n'heel axially to place it out of position to be driven by the tooth 38 oit the driving Wheel 3i". We provide means for shitting said Wheel anially when the odometer is at t ie display opening and tor this purpose pivot on the inner side of the liront traire plate l0, a. linger el?) which is adapted to be roche-d against the side of said odometer Wheel to shift it. axially by means of a lever lit pinned to a rock shaftfl piroted in the front plate l0 and having on the dial side a` eiiank 46a for rocking it. A spring 4:6 acting` on the Wheel engaging arm holds the latter yieldingly out outside oi the outer spool i'iai z lf2 'Y it may be rocked into a p non to overlie said thereo'l Wheel or into a` lviosition to one side and it is held yieldingly in either nl its two po by a sjpning 4f?) and it is movable info i s tno positions by two teeth 50 on the lin'rer 4 8 which alterinitely (infrage a projectie. l on said lever fill such enga ment bein timed for the proper inorements oi" the loeiiing 'linger and the Wheel shitting; arm.

The dial is covered by a Circular plaie or dish ot mounted in a bezel or ring` 53 which lits over the edge oi the circular 'liront plate l() and preferably secured in position by a hey controlled Vlock so that as; the resetting; l'iobs, and the cranlis that render the odometer inoiieratire, are housed by said and ring there can be no unauthorized access thereto. On the tace olf said ring are printed or engraved. designations corresponding with those for the ren spective odometers. or reg'isterinje)r devices7 as for example, Total /l`rip; Oil; Gas; Tire 1; Tire 2; Tire 3; Tire 4W; Tire 5; and Tire (3. The Words Total and Trip are preferably at the top and they Jform the starting point counting from which any desired odometer or ister may be brought to the sight or display opening'. Thus for example, the odom eter tor rw and for Tire 2 lire l (which align) are lmown to be the second ai er the total l .in odometers because they are lthe second designations a'l'tcr the designation Total and Trip on 'the indexing ring. Ve are thus able lo employ a stationary index and yet with e. and facility may bring' any desired odonieter or register into reading' position. For the derignations Clas and Lily7 a register or counte' is provided in each case. but. they. ot course. are not automatically operated but each is set by hand according; to the gas or oil supply. the Piero oit' u" ice being used 'for that purpose. liaeh ot' said registers arran'i'ed 'with one ot the groups or series ot odo and bj," the reroluti rh cai the odonioters said registers are ln'oughtfinto position at the display openings and into position il'or operation by the Zero setting device. shown Fig'. ll, each register has a setting` pinion 390. and a ratchet wheel S50 and detent 35i to prevent back rotation. i

The odometers shown need not be described in detail, lor their ccnistruetion is a Well-known one of the type consisting` ot a Hill Cil

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series of numerals-bearing rings mounted side by side and with internal transfer mechanism by means of which, at each revolution of a ring of lower denomination, the adjacent ring of higher denomination will be moved through one-tenth of a revolution.`

le utilize the driving shaft 14 to support the centrifugal arms of a speedometer actuating mechanism because it makes a com pact, simple construction and because it has been found that with the centrifugal arms mounted on an upright aXis, the speedometer is both sensitive and accu ate. There are two centrifugal arms 5d, each pivotally hung by a link from a collar 56 mounted on the shaft lli just below the top plate 10a. Each of said centrifugal arms is Vconnected by a link 57 with a vertically slidable sleeve 58 mounted on the shaft lli and pressed upward by a coil spring 59 so that said sleeve is moved downward as the centrifugal arms swing outward in the revolution of the shaft. On the lower end of said sleeve 5S is a cone GO with slightly concave sides that engages one end of a horizontal lever 6i having a pivot 62 in bearings supported on thebot-r tom plate whose other end carries a gear segment 63 which meshes with a pinion (il on a vertical shaft 65 which carries an indicator drum 66 of the speedometer, said drum being thus mounted in a horizontal position. The numerals or graduations on the periphery of said drum are exhibited through a display opening. 67 in the lower part of the dial below the display openings for the odometers or registers.

` By the relative arrangement of the parts we are able to get them all within a small compass and within the circun'iference of the circular front plate. l0 which is an important consideration because by reason of the ground or substantially cylindrical form which the device is given, it can be readily placed in the round opening usually provided on the instrument board for the ordinary speedometer.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is 1. An instrument of the class described comprising groups of registers mounted side by side, a rotary support for each group, a common operating means for all of the registers comprising a shaft upon which said rotary supports are mounted, shaft driving mechanism situated between the two groups of registers, a single means for rotating both groups of registers, means for transmitting motion from said single means directly to the supports of both groups, a face plate over the registers having a sight opening to which the registers are brought in succession by rotation of their support, and means for actuating the registers of the groups.

2. An instrument of the class described comprising two circular groups of registers mounted side by side, acommon operating means for all the registers, a shaft concentric with said groups, a shaft rotating member situated between the two groups, a rotatable support for each group mounted on the shaft, a gear wheel for each rotatable support, a pinion meshing with each gear wheel, and a single operating device for both pinions.

3. An instrument of the class described. comprising two circular groups of registers mounted side by side, a shaft concentric with said groups, a rotatable support for each group mounted on the shaft, a gear wheel for each rotatable support, a pinion meshing with each gear wheel, a single operating device for both pinions, a wheel secured to the shaft between the two groups, means for revolving said wheel, and a driving connection between said shaft and registers of each group.

An instrument of the class described coniprising a frame having a. circular end plate, and top and bottom plates, a plurality of registers, a movable support for said registers mounted in rear of said circular plate and between said top and bottom plates, a dial over the registers having a sight opening to which the registers are brought in succession by the movement of their support, a vertical driving shaftin rear of the registers and supported by said top and bottom plates, nection between said driving shaft and said registers for actuating each of the latter comprising` a wheel, and a shaft geared thereto and extending over the top plate.

5. An instrument of thei class described comprising a frame having a circular end plate and top and bottom plates, a plurality of registers, a movable `support for said registers mounted in rear of said circular plate and between said top and bottom plates, a dial over the registers having a sight opening to which the registers are brought in succession by the movement of their support, a vertical driving shaft in rear of the registers and supported by said top and bottom plates, a driving connection between said driving shaft and said registers for actuating each of the latter, a rotatable speed indicating drum mounted on a vertical axis beneath said registers, a centrifugal device mounted on said vertical driving shaft, and means for transmitting movement of said centrifugal device to said drum.

6. An instrument of the classV described comprising a plurality of registers, means for automatically actuating each register ccmprising a. driving and driven wheel, a movable support for the registers, a face plate having a sight opening to which the registers are brought in succession by the movement of their support, a stationarily and a driving con,

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niounted device 'for placing the driven Wheel oi: each register in inoperative position to which the registers are brought in succeel@ion by the inoveinent olf their supporti, a locking device to hold Said vvheel in inoperative position, and comin-on actuator iter both said devices, said locking;i device he ing Inovabie into and ont oif position overripping the `wheel.

7. instrument of' the clase described con'iprising e plurali@7 ol registere, ineens for automatically actHating` each register con'iprising aA driving end a driven wheel, a iuovable support for the registers, a 'tace plate having.;l a sight openingl to which the i'egiSters `are brought in Succession bjJ the nioveinen oi.: their support, a stationerily mounted device for placing' the driven vrbeel oi' Iach regioter .in inoperative position to which the registers are brought in succeesion by the nioveinent oit their Support, said means con'iprising pivoted erin and a roei-t shaft, and e locking device to hol d the vrheel in inoperative. position actuated by said rock shaft.

8. An instrument ot the clase described coinprieing a register, ineane for actuating the register coinprieing a driving and a driven Wheel7 a movable eupport lor the reg;- .ster7 a Stetionarily mounted device for placing the dri ven Wheel ot' the register in inoperative position to and 'troni which such wheel is brought by the n'n'ivabie register support, a locking device to Secure said wheel in inoperative position, and a coniinon actuator for both Said devices.

9. An instrnn'ient o't the class rilescribed ('.feinpriSing a registera nie-ans tor actuating the register comprising a driving and e driven wheel1 a movable support for the register, a etationarilv mounted device for placing' the driven wheel of the register in inoperative poeition to and from which euch Wheel is brought by the movable regie4- 'tv-r support, a locking device to secure Said .vheel in inoperative position, and a connnon actuator for beth Said devices7 Said looking; device beingv movable by seid actuator into and out oii' position overlapping the Wheel.

ln teetin'ionyv that vve claini the foregoing We have hereunto eet our hands.

CHARLES F. MILLER. JOHN lVILLIS.

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